Driveway marker pole mount systems

ABSTRACT

A mounting system for driveway marker poles includes a mount body, a coil spring and a ground spike. The mount body includes an upper end with an opening for receiving a driveway marker, the opening leading to an internal axial passage. The mount body includes a lower portion sized to slidingly engage within an upper segment of the coil spring with an interference to retain the mount body to the coil spring. The ground spike includes a threaded upper end with an exterior thread configured to threadedly engage into a lower segment of the coil spring. Systems without a coil spring are also described.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates generally to driveway markers used to delineatethe edge of a driveway or other path and, more particularly, to drivewaymarker mounts adapted to permit driveway markers to move out of theupright position under applied force and move back to the uprightposition when the applied force is removed.

BACKGROUND

Driveway markers in the form of cylindrical poles that can be insertedinto the ground along the border of a driveway or other path are common.In some cases, spring and insert assemblies are used to enable thedriveway markers to move out of the upright position under applied forceand move back to the upright position when the applied force is removed.However, in such driveway marker systems, the pole, insert and springare commonly integrated together and not adapted for separation. Inaddition, existing driveway marker systems only fit a single pole size.Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a driveway marker systemthat is adapted to more than one pole size. A driveway marker systemthat eliminates the need for springs could also be beneficial.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a mounting system for driveway marker poles includes amount body including an upper end with an opening for receiving drivewaymarkers, the opening leading to an internal axial passage, wherein theinternal axial passage includes at least a first axial segment adjacentthe opening and a second axial segment below the first axial segment,wherein the first axial segment has a first perimeter dimension sizedfor receiving and holding a driveway marker pole having a firstdiameter, wherein the second axial segment has a second perimeterdimension, which is smaller than the first perimeter dimension and sizedfor receiving and holding a driveway marker pole having a seconddiameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the firstdiameter.

In another aspect, a mounting system for driveway marker poles includesa mount body, a coil spring and a ground spike. The mount body includesan upper end with an opening for receiving a driveway marker, theopening leading to an internal axial passage. The mount body includes alower portion sized to slidingly engage within an upper segment of thecoil spring with an interference to retain the mount body to the coilspring. The ground spike includes a threaded upper end with an exteriorthread configured to threadedly engage into a lower segment of the coilspring.

In a further aspect, a mounting system for driveway marker poles isprovided, where the device includes a mount body including an upper endwith an opening for receiving driveway markers, the opening leading toan internal axial passage. In the mounting device, at least one of (i)the mount body is formed of a material having a durometer of betweenabout Shore 70A and about Shore 85A (between 75A and 80A) and/or (ii)the internal axial passage includes a first axial segment adjacent theopening and a second axial segment below the first axial segment,wherein the first axial segment has a first perimeter dimension sizedfor receiving and holding a first driveway marker pole having a firstdiameter, wherein the second axial segment has a second perimeterdimension, which is smaller than the first perimeter dimension and sizedfor receiving and holding a second driveway marker pole having a seconddiameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the firstdiameter.

In another aspect, a mounting system for driveway marker includes amount body including an upper end with an opening for receiving drivewaymarkers, the opening leading to an internal axial passage, wherein themount body includes an upper portion that includes the internal axialpassage, a middle portion and a lower base portion, wherein the lowerbase portion includes a through opening for receiving a ground spike,wherein the middle portion is configured to enable flexing of the upperportion relative to the base portion.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features, objects, andadvantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and fromthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a driveway marker system using a coil spring;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-section of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A-3D show one embodiment of a mount body for use in the system ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a mount body for use in the system ofFIG. 1;

FIGS. 5A-5C show another embodiment of a mount body for use in thesystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a mount body for use in the system ofFIG. 1;

FIGS. 7A-7B show another embodiment of a mount body for use in thesystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a mount body for use in the system ofFIG. 1;

FIGS. 9A-9C show another embodiment of a mount body for use in thesystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of a mount body for use in the systemof FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 shows a flap arrangement useable in the any of the mount bodies;

FIG. 12 shows another flap arrangement useable in any of the mountbodies;

FIGS. 13 and 14 show another embodiment of a mount body for use in thesystem of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 15A-15F show a mount body configuration that eliminates the needfor a coil spring in the driveway marker system;

FIGS. 16A-16C show installation of the mount body of FIG. 15A;

FIGS. 17A-17C show another embodiment of a mount body configuration thateliminates the need for a coil spring in the driveway marker system; and

FIG. 18 shows another mount body in which the internal axial passage isadapted for three different driveway marker pole sizes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Marker Systems with Coil Springs

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a driveway marker system assembly 10 including adriveway marker pole 12, a mount body 14, a coil spring 16 and a groundspike 18. The coil spring 16 includes an upper cylindrical segment 16Aand lower cylindrical segment 16B, where the upper segment has a largerinternal diameter than the lower segment. The lower segment 16B engageson a threaded upper axial boss 18A of the ground spike. The thread onthe upper axial boss 18A is configured to threadedly receive the coilspring for this purpose (e.g., the thread from has a helical pitch andgeneral shape that will match to the helical pitch and shape of the wiremaking up the spring). The upper segment 16A receives a lower portion ofthe mount body 14. The pole 12 mounts into an axial passage 20 of themount body (note that in FIG. 2 the pole 12 is not fully inserted). Wheninstalled in the ground, the spring 16 provides a flex feature in anydirection (e.g., arrow 22) that enables the pole to bend downward out ofthe upright position under applied force and move back to the uprightposition when the applied force is removed.

FIGS. 3A-3D show one embodiment of a mount body 14A in which the mountbody includes an upper end 30A with an opening 32A for receivingdriveway markers, where the opening 32A leads to an internal axialpassage 34A with central axis 26A. By way of example, the mount body 14Amay be formed of a polyurethane material having a durometer of betweenabout Shore 70A and about Shore 85A (between Shore 75A and Shore 80A).Use of this relatively low durometer provides an advantage in that itenables the driveway marker pole to be slidingly inserted into theinternal axial passage with an interference fit manually, even when thelower portion of the mount body is already engaged into the upperportion of the coil spring. For example, using this durometer, theinternal axial passage is sized and configured such that the drivewaymarker (e.g., with a diameter of 0.3125 inches) can be manually slidinto the internal axial passage with an axially applied force of no morethe forty pounds. However, other hardness variations or materials (e.g.,neoprene, silicone, nitrile, natural rubber) are also possible andcontemplated.

The internal axial passage 34A includes an upper axial segment 36Aadjacent the opening and a lower axial segment 38A below the axialsegment 36A. The axial segment 36A has a perimeter dimension sized forreceiving and holding a driveway marker pole having a first diameter,and the axial segment 38A has a different, smaller perimeter dimension,which is sized for receiving and holding a driveway marker pole having asecond diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. In this manner,the same mount body is capable of receiving and holding two differentdriveway pole sizes. For example, the first pole diameter may be on theorder of 0.300 to 0.313 inches and the second pole diameter may be onthe order of 0.245 to 0.255 inches, but other variations are possible.

Here, both axial segments 36A and 38A are substantially cylindrical(e.g., cylindrical or with a slight taper or draft, indicated by angleθ, of from zero degrees up to about three degrees, or with a similartaper or draft in the opposite direction). In particular, the wallsurfaces defining the respective axial segments 36A and 38A are each asubstantial right circular cylinder shape (e.g., right circular cylindershape or offset therefrom by a modest taper of no more than about threedegrees). Thus, axial segment 36A has a substantially circular perimetershape, with diameter D36A, in end view (circular shape defined in aplane transverse to the axis 26A), and the axial segment 38A has asubstantially circular perimeter shape, with smaller diameter D38A. Inone example, diameter D38A is less than 90% of diameter D36A (e.g., D38Ais less than 85% of D36A), but other variations are possible.

The mount body 14A includes a lower portion 40A configured forpositioning within the upper end or segment 16A of the coil spring(e.g., slidingly engaging into the opening of the upper segment with aninterference to retain the mount body to the coil spring) and an upperrim portion 42A defining a lower surface 44A for engaging with a top ofthe coil spring in order to limit progression of the mount body into thecoil spring. Here, a diameter of the upper annular rim is no more than2.2 times an external diameter of a spring insert section of the mountbody (e.g., the lower portion of the mount body). Here, the lowerportion 40A includes an external surface 46A (e.g., substantial rightcircular cylinder shape) with a plurality spaced apart axial ribs 48A(e.g., four ribs are shown, but the number could vary). The ribs 48A areconfigured and dimensioned such that axial pullout force necessary toremove the lower portion 40A from coil spring is greater than an axialpullout force necessary to remove a driveway marker from the internalaxial passage 34A. In this manner, a driveway marker can be pulled outof the mount body without pulling the mount body out of the spring(e.g., when the spring and mount body are spiked to the ground).

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a mount body 14B that isidentical to the mount body 14A, except that the external surface 46B ofthe lower portion 40B does not include any axial ribs.

FIGS. 5A-5C show an alternative embodiment of a mount body 14C that isidentical to the mount body 14A, except that internal axial ribs (akasplines) are provided. In particular, the axial segment 36C is definedby a main perimeter wall 50C that includes a plurality of spaced apartand inwardly extending axial ribs 52C, and the axial segment 38C isdefined by a main perimeter wall 54C that includes a plurality of spacedapart and inwardly extending axial ribs 56C. Here, four axial ribs 52Cand four axial ribs 56C are provided, but other variations are possible.The axial ribs/splines allow compression of the pole into the mount bodymaterial to be applied against the ribs rather than the full circularperimeter of the axial passage.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a mount body 14D that isidentical to mount body 14C, except that the external surface 46D of thelower portion 40D does not include any axial ribs.

FIGS. 7A-7B show an alternative embodiment of a mount body 14E that isidentical to mount body 14A, except the end view perimeter shape of thesubstantially cylindrical internal axial passage 34E along both axialsegments 36E and 38E is polygonal (e.g., hexagonal or other) rather thancircular. In this arrangement, the compression of the driveway markerpole into the mount body material will occur in the middle portion ofeach sidewall segment of the polygonal shape.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a mount body 14F that isidentical to mount body 14E, except that the external surface 46F of thelower portion 40F does not include any axial ribs.

FIGS. 9A-9C show an alternative embodiment of a mount body 14G that isidentical to mount body 14E, except that internal axial ribs areprovided. In particular, the axial segment 36G is defined by a mainpolygonal perimeter wall 50G that includes a plurality of spaced apartand inwardly extending axial ribs 52G, and the axial segment 38G isdefined by a main polygonal perimeter wall 54G that includes a pluralityof spaced apart and inwardly extending axial ribs 56G. Here, eachpolygonal segment includes an axial rib centered thereon, but othervariations are possible.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of a mount body 14H that isidentical to mount body 14G, except that the external surface 46H of thelower portion 40H does not include any axial ribs.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment in which the internal axialpassage of a mount body include flaps. In particular, a main perimeterwall 601 of the upper axial segment of the internal passage includes aplurality of spaced apart and inwardly extending axial flap segments 621that are angled relative to a radial direction, and a main perimeterwall 641 of the lower axial segment of the internal passage includes aplurality of spaced apart and inwardly extending axial flap segments 661that are angled relative to a radial direction. The flap segmentsdeflect/bend during insertion of a driveway marker pole to provideincreasing compression against the driveway marker pole with increasingdeflection/bend. These flap segments 621 and 661 could replace the axialribs of any of the mount bodies 14C, 14D, 14G or 14H.

FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment in which the flap segments 621and 661 are adjacent to respective axial recesses 681 and 701 into whichaxial flap segments can move/fold when a driveway pole is inserted.Again, this flap configuration could replace the axial ribs of any ofthe mount bodies 14C, 14D, 14G or 14H.

FIGS. 13 and 14 shows an alternative embodiment of a mount body 14J inwhich the end view shape of the external surface 46J of the lowerportion 40J is polygonal rather than substantial right circularcylinder. This shape could be used with any configuration of theinternal axial passage described in the above embodiments.

Any one of the above mount bodies could be packaged and sold as a kit,in combination with the coil spring, or with both the coil spring andthe ground spike, for use with driveway marker poles that can bepurchased separately. Of course, the kit could also include a pole.

Marker Systems without Coil Springs

FIGS. 15A-15F and 16A-16C show an embodiment of a driveway marker systemin which the coil spring is eliminated in favor of a mount body 80A thatincludes an upper portion 82A, a middle portion 84A and a lower baseportion 86A. The top of the upper portion 82A includes an opening 88Afor receiving driveway marker poles, where the opening 88A leads to aninternal axial passage 90A with central axis 92A. By way of example, themount body 80A may be formed (e.g., a single molded unit) of apolyurethane material having a durometer of between about Shore 70A andabout Shore 85A (between Shore 75A and Shore 80A), but other hardnessvariations or materials (e.g., neoprene, silicone, nitrile, naturalrubber) are also possible and contemplated. Also, different portions ofthe mount body could be formed of different materials, or materialcompositions, of different hardness (e.g., the lower base portion havinga higher hardness than the middle portion and/or upper portion, or othervariations, such as co-molding or overmolding a stiffer upper portionand/or bottom portion with a lesser stiffness middle portion, orpossibly varying rib stiffness from the balance). The internal axialpassage 90A includes an upper axial segment 94A adjacent the opening anda lower axial segment 96A below the axial segment 94A. The axial segment94A has a perimeter dimension sized for receiving and holding a drivewaymarker pole having a first diameter, and the axial segment 96A has adifferent, smaller perimeter dimension, which is sized for receiving andholding a driveway marker pole having a second diameter that is smallerthan the first diameter.

Here, both axial segments 94A and 96A are substantially cylindrical(e.g., cylindrical or with a slight taper or draft, indicated by angleθ1, of from zero degrees up to about three degrees). The end viewperimeter shape of the substantially cylindrical internal axial passage90A along both substantially cylindrical axial segments 94A and 96A ispolygonal (e.g., four-sided with curved corner in the illustratedversion, but other polygonal shapes being possible) rather thancircular. However, any one of the above described axial passageconfigurations for the mount bodies 14A-14G could be incorporated intothe mount body 80A (including the various shapes and the presence orabsence of axial ribs or flap segments).

The upper portion 82A includes a pair of lateral slots 110A and 112Athat lead, respectively, to the axial segments 94A and 96A. These slotsmay be used to insert a tool (e.g., a screwdriver) to assist in removinga driveway marker pole from the internal axial passage 90A.

The middle portion 84A, and/or the connection of the upper portion 82Ato the middle portion 84A, is configured to enable flexing of the upperportion 82A relative to the base portion 86A (e.g., per arrow 114A). Inorder to prevent excessive flexing or bending, the illustrated middleportion 84A is formed with a series of vertically spaced apart annularstiffening ribs 116A. Additional rigidity is achieved, if needed, by theuse of axial stiffening ribs 118A between each sequential pair ofannular ribs 116A. Here, four circumferentially spaced apart axialstiffening ribs 118A between each sequential set or pair of annular ribs116A are utilized, but the number could vary. Notably, the axial ribs118A running between the pairs of sequential annular ribs 116A arecircumferentially offset or staggered from each other as shown to enableflex of the annular ribs in the regions where the adjacent axial ribsare not located. It is recognized, however, that in some embodiments,the axial ribs could all be aligned. In other embodiments, the axialribs could be eliminated and/or both the annular ribs and axial ribscould be eliminated.

The lower base portion 86A is enlarged relative to the middle and upperportions and includes a through opening 120A for receiving a groundspike 200 in order to secure the mount body 80A to the ground at alocation where a driveway marker pole is desired. Access to the opening120A is provided by a recessed section 122A of the lower base portion86A Here, the middle portion 84A and the upper portion 82A aresubstantially aligned over the through opening 120A of the lower baseportion 86A (e.g., an axis 124A of the through opening 120A issubstantially aligned with the axis 92A). Per FIGS. 16A-16C, to installthe mount body 80A using a ground spike 200, the mount body 80A may beinitially placed at an angle with the ground spike vertical, where someflexing of the material around the through opening facilitates thisorientation, while the ground spike 200 is hammered into the ground 202.The bottom side of the lower base portion 86A may also include a taperedor angled section 130A to facilitate this orientation. When the groundspike 200 is fully seated, the head of the spike engages the upwardfacing surface that is disposed around the through opening 120A to holdthe mount body securely to the ground or proximate to the ground. Adriveway marker pole 204 can then be inserted into the axial passage 90Aper arrow 206.

FIGS. 17A-17C show another embodiment of a driveway marker system inwhich the coil spring is eliminated in favor of a mount body 80B thatincludes an upper portion 82B, a middle portion 84B and a lower baseportion 86B. The top of the upper portion 82B includes an opening 88Bfor receiving driveway marker poles 204, where the opening 88B leads toan internal axial passage 90B with central axis 92B. By way of example,the mount body 80B may be formed (e.g., a single molded unit) of apolyurethane material having a durometer of between about Shore 70A andabout Shore 85A (between Shore 75A and Shore 80A), but other hardnessvariations or materials are also possible and contemplated. The internalaxial passage 90B includes an upper axial segment 94B adjacent theopening and a lower axial segment 96B below the axial segment 94B. Theaxial segment 94B has a perimeter dimension sized for receiving andholding a driveway marker pole having a first diameter, and the axialsegment 96B has a different, smaller perimeter dimension, which is sizedfor receiving and holding a driveway marker pole having a seconddiameter that is smaller than the first diameter.

Here, both axial segments 94B and 96B are substantially cylindrical(e.g., cylindrical or with a slight taper or draft of from zero degreesup to about three degrees). The end view perimeter shape of the internalaxial passage 90B along both substantially cylindrical axial segments94B and 96B is polygonal (e.g., four-sided with curved corner in theillustrated version, but other polygonal shapes being possible) ratherthan circular. However, any one of the above described axial passageconfigurations for the mount bodies 14A-14G could be incorporated intothe mount body 80B (including the various shapes and the presence orabsence of axial ribs or flap segments).

The upper portion 82B includes a pair of lateral slots 110B and 112Bthat lead, respectively, to the axial segments 94B and 96B. These slotsmay be used to insert a tool (e.g., a screwdriver) to assist in removinga driveway marker pole from the internal axial passage 90B.

The lower base portion 86B is enlarged relative to the middle and upperportions and includes a through opening 120B for receiving a groundspike 200 in order to secure the mount body 80B to the ground at alocation where a driveway marker pole is desired. Here, the lower baseportion includes a laterally offset foot 140B that enables the throughopening 120B to be laterally offset from the middle portion 84B and theupper portion 82B (e.g., the axis 124B of the through opening 120B isoffset from the axis 92B). This configuration enables easier access tothe opening 120B for a user to place the ground spike 200 duringinstallation.

Here, the middle portion 84B is shown with a substantially cylindricalshape with smooth external surface. However, the middle portion 84Bcould include the annular rib and/or axial rib configuration of mountbody 80A as described above.

Either of the above mount bodies could be packaged and sold as a kit, incombination with the ground spike, for use with driveway marker polesthat can be purchased separately. Of course, the kit could also includea pole.

It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended byway of illustration and example only, is not intended to be taken by wayof limitation, and that other changes and modifications are possible.

For example, while the internal axial passage of each of the abovedescribed embodiments of the mount body each include two distinct axialsegments corresponding to two distinct driveway marker pole sizes,embodiments adapted for more than two pole sizes are contemplated. Inthis regard, reference is made to the schematic embodiment shown in FIG.18 in which the upper portion of a mount body 80C is shown, where theinternal axial passage 90C includes three axial segments 94C, 96C and95C of differing perimeter dimension for three different pole diameters(e.g., 0.375 to 0.385 inches, 0.300 to 0.315 inches and 0.245 to 0.255inches, or other), with each axial segment having a correspondinglateral access slot 110C, 112C and 111C that enables insertion of a tool(e.g., screwdriver or other) to facilitate pole removal). Any of theabove described mount body embodiments could incorporate an internalaxial passage with three (or more) distinct perimeter dimensions. Inaddition, variations of any of the described mount bodies arecontemplated in which the axial passage is only sized to fit a singlediameter pole.

Moreover, while internal passage axial segments that are substantiallycylindrical are primarily described, variations in which the axialsegments are not substantially cylindrical are also possible.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting system for a driveway marker pole, thesystem comprising: a mount body including an upper end with an openingfor receiving a driveway marker, the opening leading to an internalaxial passage; wherein the mount body is configured with one or more offeatures (i), (ii) or (iii) below: (i) the mount body is formed of amaterial having a durometer of between about Shore 70A and about Shore85A; or (ii) the mount body includes an upper annular rim thatcompletely surrounds the opening; or (iii) the mount body includes alower portion with a plurality circumferentially spaced apart exterioraxial ribs.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mount body isconfigured with all of features (i), (ii) and (iii).
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein a diameter of the upper annular rim is no more than 2.2times a diameter of a spring insert section of the mount body.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the internal axial passage includes at leasta first axial segment adjacent the opening and a second axial segmentbelow the first axial segment, wherein the first axial segment has afirst perimeter dimension sized for receiving and holding a drivewaymarker pole having a first diameter, wherein the second axial segmenthas a second perimeter dimension, which is smaller than the firstperimeter dimension and sized for receiving and holding a drivewaymarker pole having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter issmaller than the first diameter.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein thefirst axial segment is substantially cylindrical and the second axialsegment is substantially cylindrical.
 6. The system of claim 5, whereinthe first axial segment has a substantially circular perimeter shape,with a first diameter, in a first plane transverse to an axis of theinternal axial passage, wherein the second axial segment has asubstantially circular perimeter shape, with a second diameter, in asecond plane transverse to the internal axial passage, the seconddiameter being smaller than the first diameter.
 7. The system of claim6, wherein the second diameter is less than 90% of the first diameter.8. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a coil spring; wherein themount body includes a lower portion slidingly engaged within an upperend segment of the coil spring and the upper annular rim defines a lowersurface for engaging with a top of the coil spring to limit progressioninto the coil spring.
 9. The system of claim 8, further comprising: adriveway marker having a diameter of 0.3125 inches, wherein the drivewaymarker is slidably engageable into the internal axial passage with aninterference fit, and the internal axial passage is sized and configuredsuch that the driveway marker can be manually slid into the internalaxial passage with an axially applied force of no more the forty pounds.10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a ground spike engagedwithin a lower end segment of the coil spring.
 11. (canceled)
 12. Thesystem of claim 8, further comprising a driveway marker pole engaged inthe axial passage of the mount body, wherein the lower portion of themount body is engaged within the upper end segment of the coil spring,and wherein an axial pullout force necessary to remove the lower portionof the mount body from coil spring is greater than an axial pulloutforce necessary to remove a driveway marker from the internal axialpassage.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the lower portion of themount body includes a plurality circumferentially spaced apart exterioraxial ribs.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of themount body includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apartexterior axial ribs. 15-16. (canceled)
 17. The system of claim 1,wherein the mount body includes an upper portion that includes theinternal axial passage, a middle portion and a lower base portion,wherein the lower base portion includes a through opening for receivinga ground spike, wherein the middle portion is configured to enableflexing of the upper portion relative to the lower base portion. 18-19.(canceled)
 20. The system of claim 1, wherein the material is apolyurethane material.
 21. (canceled)
 22. A mounting system for drivewaymarker poles, the system comprising: a mount body; a coil spring; aground spike; wherein the mount body includes an upper end with anopening for receiving a driveway marker, the opening leading to aninternal axial passage; wherein the mount body includes a lower portionslidingly engaged within an upper segment of the coil spring with aninterference to releasably retain the mount body to the coil spring;wherein the ground spike includes a threaded upper end with an exteriorthread configured to threadedly engage into a lower segment of the coilspring.
 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the internal axial passageincludes at least a first axial segment adjacent the opening and asecond axial segment below the first axial segment, wherein the firstaxial segment has a first perimeter dimension, wherein the second axialsegment has a second perimeter dimension, which is smaller than thefirst perimeter dimension.
 24. The system of claim 22, wherein the mountbody is formed of a material having a durometer of between about Shore75A and about Shore 82A.
 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the lowerportion of the mount body includes a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced apart exterior axial ribs.
 26. The system of claim 25, whereinthe mount body includes an upper rim portion sized to engage with anupper end of the upper segment of the coil spring to limit movement ofthe mount body into the upper segment, wherein the upper rim portioncompletely surrounds the opening in the upper end of the mount body. 27.A mounting system for driveway marker poles, the system comprising: amount body; a coil spring; a ground spike; wherein the mount bodyincludes an upper end with an opening for receiving a driveway marker,the opening leading to an internal axial passage; wherein the mount bodyincludes a lower portion sized to slidingly engage within an uppersegment of the coil spring with an interference fit sufficient to retainthe mount body to the coil spring but to permit removal of the mountbody from the coil spring manually without the aid of any tool; whereinthe ground spike includes an upper end configured to matingly engageinto a lower segment of the coil spring; wherein the mount body isformed of a material having a durometer of between about Shore 75A andabout Shore 85A; and wherein the mount body includes an upper rimportion sized to engage with an upper end of the upper segment of thecoil spring to limit movement of the mount body into the upper segment.28. The system of claim 27, wherein: the upper rim portion completelysurrounds the opening in the upper end of the mount body, and whereinthe internal axial passage is configured to slidingly receive at leasttwo different sized driveway marker poles with an interference fit forretention; the mount body includes a lower portion with a pluralitycircumferentially spaced apart exterior axial ribs. 29-33. (canceled)